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REVIEWS. 



are six in this volume. It is not too much to say, that they are executed 

 in the highest style of this beautiful art ; that the figures are drawn most 

 accurately, by Mr. Gosse himself, and represent the sea anemonies, star- 

 fish, &c, in all their gorgeous colouring, in their proper habitats, and in a 

 manner undoubtedly never before attempted. With the help of these 

 plates, this volume becomes an elegant addition to the drawing-room 

 table, as well as to the studio of the artist who endeavours to portray 

 animal life. In the printing, &c, no expense has been spared to make 

 the volume worthy of its contents. 



There is one chapter, in particular, which merits the attention 

 of the Christian naturalist. We refer to the one — " On the Eight 

 Use of Natural History." We are truly glad to see this chapter. 

 Nature might lead us to Nature's God, but there it leaves us. When 

 an anxious conscience demands to know something more of God, some- 

 thing of his feelings towards offenders, of his way of dealing with rebels, 

 whether there is forgiveness with Him and mercy — the creatures are 

 mute. One says it is not in me, and another says it is not in me — but to 

 enlighten us on these points is the grand object of the Word of God. It 

 reveals to us man, a fallen creature, bound for eternal ruin, through the 

 multitude of his sins ; but it also reveals to us God, manifest in the flesh, 

 a Saviour, who taketh away the sins of the whole world. When this 

 grand inquiry — this qcestio qucestionum — is settled authoritatively by the 

 Divine oracles, then the creatures may come again in, and teach us, sub- 

 ordinately, many lessons — then the world of created beings may become a 

 mirror constantly reflecting Divine things. We will then be able to see 

 that their habitations display his care ; their instincts, his wisdom ; their 

 merriment, his love ; their vast specific diversities, his solicitous and in- 

 scrutable Providence.* Our object, so far, has been to give our readers 

 an idea of Mr. Gosse's work ; this, to the best of our ability, we have 

 done. We could linger longer over some of the pleasant walks about 

 Weymouth, of the visit to Portland, &c, but again space forbids ; short 

 as has been our notice, we trust we have shown them that this volume 

 contains vast mines of interest, which, until now, have never been explored ; 

 and they will find, on perusal, that it has a fascination far surpassing any 

 work of fiction ; and, indeed, why should it not ? for it tells us of the 

 handiwork of a great God, and not the idle fancies of one of his creation. 

 So much has the sea-side and its wonders became connected with the name 

 of Gosse, that we think him worthy of a chaplet of bright-coloured sea- 

 coral, studded with sea-stars instead of diamonds. We shall regard him 



* Dr. Williams's " Report on the British Annelida," p. 27] . 



